Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências (2018) 90(4): 3265-3283

(Annals of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences)

Printed version ISSN 0001-3765 / Online version ISSN 1678-2690
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765201820160806
www.scielo.br/aabc | www.fb.com/aabcjournal

Plant growth, radiation use efficiency and yield of sugarcane cultivated

in agroforestry systems: An alternative for threatened ecosystems

FELIPE SCHWERZ1, SANDRO L.P. MEDEIROS2, ELVIS F. ELLI3, ELDER

ELOY4, JAQUELINE SGARBOSSA5 and BRAULIO O. CARON5

1
Departamento de Produção Vegetal, Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz/ESALQ,
Universidade de São Paulo/USP, Avenida Páduas Dias, 11, 13418-900 Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
2
Departamento de Produção Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria,
Avenida Roraima, 1000, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
3
Departamento de Engenharia de Biossistemas, Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz/ESALQ,
Universidade de São Paulo/USP, Avenida Páduas Dias, 11, 13418-900 Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
4
Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Campus de Frederico
Westphalen, Linha Sete de Setembro, s/n, BR 386, Km 40, 97105-900 Frederico Westphalen, RS, Brazil
5
Departamento de Ciências Agronômicas e Ambientais, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Campus de Frederico
Westphalen, Linha Sete de Setembro, s/n, BR 386, Km 40, 97105-900 Frederico Westphalen, RS, Brazil

Manuscript received on November 25, 2016; accepted for publication on November 6, 2017

ABSTRACT
Sugarcane (Sacharum officinarum L.) monocropping has had a great socio-economic and environmental
impact in Brazil, and agroforestry systems have been considered as an alternative for more sustainable
production; however, there is a lack of field research under such conditions. The aim of this study was to
evaluate the growth rates, radiation use efficiency and yield traits in sugarcane cultivated in the understory
of Aleurites fordii, in two agroforestry arrangements and monocropping systems. A field experiment was
conducted from July 2015 to June 2016 in the city of Frederico Westphalen, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
The radiation use efficiency, assimilate partitioning, leaf area index, absolute growth rate, net assimilation
rate, number of tillers, plant height, % of intercepted solar radiation, extinction coefficient, and yield
in each system was evaluated. In agroforestry systems, the dynamic interactions between multiple plant
species change with the time and can result in unique microclimates. The use of agroforestry systems in 12
x 12m arrangements should be prioritized because it enables greater yields and radiation availability in the
understory. This study sought to provide new sustainable alternatives for farmers in order to increase the
diversification of the rural property and maintain the preservation of existing agroecosystems.
Key words: biomass partitioning, crop systems, growth rates, Sacharum officinarum, yield traits.

INTRODUCTION and environmental preservation. In order to achieve

One of the greatest national and global challenges
is to generate a balance between crop production
Correspondence to: Felipe Schwerz
E-mail: felipe_schwerz@hotmail.com
this balance, it is necessary to meet the demand for
food and energy without compromising existing
agroecosystems (Godfray et al. 2010). Agroforestry
systems deserve to be highlighted in this scenario
and are a promising strategy in order to achieve these

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3266 FELIPE SCHWERZ et al.
objectives. These systems consist of integrated land
uses, for example, land used for forestry purposes,
crop production, and/or raising livestock. Such
systems provide clear agro-ecological advantages
over systems in which only one crop is grown
(Brooker et al. 2014). Advantages include higher
production per unit of land (Zhang et al. 2007, Li et
al. 2013), greater resource-use efficiencies of water
and nutrients (Vandermeer 1989, 2011), greater
carbon sequestration in the soil (Makumba et al.
2006, Cong et al. 2014), and an increased input of
organic matter, which has been shown to improve
chemical, physical and biological properties of soil
(Tracy and Zhang 2008, Salton et al. 2013).
Intercropping is a dominant strategy of
agriculture in many parts of the world, i.e. sub-
Saharan Africa and large parts of Latin America,
and provides an estimated 20% of the world’s food
supply (Altieri 2009, Chappell et al. 2013). Despite
the great potential of intercropping, little research
has been carried out to determine the traits of
cultivated species which drive the positive effects
of intercropping systems.
Brazil is one of the major sugarcane producing
countries in the world, with estimates for 2015/2016
of 8.97 million hectares in planted area, which yields
685 million tons of sugarcane, with an average
yield of 76 tons ha-1 (Conab 2017). Sugarcane
(Sacharum officinarum L.) monocropping has
had a great socio-economic and environmental
impact in Brazil, and agroforestry systems (AFs)
have been considered as an alternative for the
sustainable production in threatened ecosystems.
Despite the potential for AFs previously described,
little research has been carried out to assess plant
growth, yield traits, and the dynamics of resources
available in these systems.
The dynamic interactions between plants in
agroforestry systems are especially relevant in areas
in which plants grow beneath trees, given that a
tree’s height, crown projection, and leaf area index
can influence the distribution of existing resources
An Acad Bras Cienc (2018) 90 (4)
such as solar radiation (Muller et al. 2014, Elli et
al. 2016). The amount of solar radiation transmitted
through the canopy can be presented in direct or
diffuse forms, which is a determining factor in the
internal microclimate of a system (Pezzopane et
al. 2015). Direct and diffuse radiation can affect
radiation use efficiency and light extinction
coefficients (Campbell and Norman 1998), which in
turn may modify the growth rate (Pinto et al. 2005),
assimilation and partitioning of photoassimilates
produced by species in the understory (Mendes et
al. 2013). In the case of sugarcane, the response due
to reduced radiation available within the canopy
can be optimized. Sugarcane, a C4 metabolism
plant, has a high solar radiation demand, in order to
meet the photosynthetic rates of plants.
Biomass production in plants depends upon
the quantity of absorbed photosynthetically active
radiation (PARa) by leaves, and the efficiency by
which leaves convert and assimilate the radiant
light through photosynthesis. Thus, the intercepted
photosynthetically active radiation (PARi) that is
converted into biomass reveals the efficiency of the
use of radiation (εb) by a species (Monteith 1977,
Van Heerden et al. 2010). While photosynthesis is the
basis for the production of biomass, little attention
has been given to the radiation use efficiency in
order to improve sugarcane yields (Zhu et al. 2010,
Flood et al. 2011). Solar radiation intercepted by
the plant canopy is the most important component
for growth analysis, but to estimate this radiation,
it is necessary to know the LAI and the extinction
coefficient.
Solar radiation can change at different points in
the understory of agroforestry systems (Paciullo et
al. 2011), depending on the area of shade provided
by the canopy, and the orientation and spacing of
the trees. Thus, new projects should be developed
in order to evaluate the growth, yield, and radiation
use efficiency of sugarcane cultivated in different
agroforestry arrangements, as well as in different
positions within each system. There is a lack of
 AN APPROACH ABOUT SUGARCANE IN AGROFOREST SYSTEMS
published results for field experiments under such
conditions.
To address this lack of information, the
following hypothesis was created: The cultivation
of sugarcane in agroforestry systems provides
greater yield, radiation use efficiency, and plant
growth, and thus can be recommended to farmers as
a sustainable alternative of production in threatened
ecosystems. The aim of this study was to evaluate
the growth rates, radiation use efficiency, and yield
traits of sugarcane cultivated in the Aleurites fordii
understory, in two agroforestry arrangements and a
monocropping system.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
STUDY AREA AND EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
A field experiment was conducted from July 2015 to
June 2016 in the city of Frederico Westphalen, Rio
Grande do Sul, Brazil, at the coordinates 27º23’48’’
S, 53º25’45’’ W and an altitude of 490 m. According
to Köppen’s climate classification (Alvares et al.
2013), the climate is Cfa, i.e., humid subtropical
with a mean annual temperature of 19.1°C, and
varying maximum and minimum temperatures of
38ºC and 0°C, respectively. The experiment was
performed in ratoon sugarcane (1st cut performed
on 07/26/2012), and the analyses were conducted
in the 4th cut, crop cycle 2015/2016. The soil of
the experimental area was classified as typical
Oxisol. Fertilization was carried out in response
to a soil analysis following the recommendations
for sugarcane crops by soil chemistry and fertility
committee (SCFC 2004).
The experimental design was a randomized
complete block, characterized by a factorial
arrangement of 3 x 3 x 8, with three cropping
systems, two agroforestry systems (12 x 12 and
6 x 6) and an isolated system with sugarcane;
three positions in line of the agroforestry systems
(Line 1, Line 2 and Line 3); and eight months of
plant collection, with three repetitions. The first
3267
evaluation of sugarcane occurred in September
2015 and the last in May 2016. The sugarcane
utilized was developed by the Agronomic Institute
of Campinas (IAC), cultivar IAC 87-3396, which is
characterized by a high yield, sucrose content, and
excellent adaptation to soils with lower fertility.
In the 12 x 12 system, forest species were
distributed in lines spaced at 12m. The sugarcane was
distributed in eight lines arranged in correspondence
to each interval between the lines of forest species,
totaling 16 lines throughout the system. In the 6 x
6 system, the forest species was planted in lines
spaced at 6m. The sugarcane was distributed in
four lines in each interval corresponding with lines
of Aleurites fordii plants. A total of 15 trees were
allocated to each experimental unit. The forest
species were planted in the experimental field in
September, while the sugarcane was planted in
November 2011. After plowing and harrowing
seedlings were manually planted. In both systems,
the sugarcane had a spacing of 1.20m and a density
of 16 buds per meter, with both tree and sugarcane
lines oriented from East to West. After planting
the sugarcane, plots were delineated by stakes set
two meters apart and were distributed at different
points in the understory of each experimental unit.
In the 12 x 12 system lines L1, L2 and L3 of the
evaluation were positioned at a distance of 1.2m,
3.6m and 4.8m from the Aleurites fordii species,
respectively. Differently, in the 6 x 6 system lines
L1, L2 and L3 were positioned at 1.2m, 2.4m and
1.2m, respectively. These plot areas were chosen
with the objective of representing microclimate
conditions in areas under the canopy of each
agroforestry system. For subsequent analyses of the
data, average values of the lines in each system were
calculated in order to comply with the objectives of
this study. The arrangement of tree, sugarcane, and
plot of evaluation are shown in Figure 1.
Forest species Tung (Aleurites fordii), which
belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family, an exotic
species with deciduous characteristics, was used
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3268 FELIPE SCHWERZ et al.

Figure 1 - A sketch of an experimental unit of the agroforestry systems (12 x 12 and 6 x 6)

and the isolated system. Black circles represent the trees, continuous lines indicate where the
sugarcane was planted, and the rectangles in grey represent the monthly evaluation plots of
sugarcane.

to establish the agroforestry system. It was chosen
because of its adaptability to environmental
conditions and high oil content in its fruits, which
make it a viable option for the composition of
agroforestry systems. Allometric characteristics
of Aleurites fordii trees were evaluated using
descriptive statistics (Table I).
PLANT GROWTH EVALUATIONS
The sugarcane was cut on July 2, 2015; evaluations
started 84 days after cutting (DAC), due to the
slow initial growth of shoots, evaluations were
performed every 30 days, with the last at 332
DAC, amounting to 8 months of plant collection.
In each evaluation period, a total of 42 plants
were collected, and two representative plants per
evaluation plot were analyzed, resulting in a total
of 332 evaluated plants. On the day of collection,
tiller numbers were counted and plant height was
measured with a metric tape measure.
In the laboratory, plant sectioning was
performed, as well as the preparation of leaf discs to
determine the leaf area and dry matter partitioning.
The total dry matter (TDM) of the plants was
determined as the sum of the components: leaf,
pseudoculm+senescent, and stalk. Each component
was gathered and placed in labeled, individual
paper sacks. The sacks were then sent into a forced
circulation oven at 60°C until a consistent mass
was obtained. The samples were later weighed on
a precision balance in order to obtain the dry mass
of each component, which together resulted in the
TDM.
Leaf area (LA) was calculated according to the
equation:
( DM leaves+discs )
LA = ( nº discs*punch disc area ) *
DM discs
Where, n° discs = number of discs by sample;
punch area = punch disc area in mm2; DM leaves

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 AN APPROACH ABOUT SUGARCANE IN AGROFOREST SYSTEMS 3269

TABLE I
Height (H), stem diameter (SD), diameter at breast height (DBH) and mean diameter of crown (MDC) of Aleurites fordii,
in agroforestry systems (12 x 12 and 6 x 6), the plants were five years old.

H (m) SD (cm) DBH (cm) MDC (m)

Statistics
12 x 12 6x6 12 x 12 6x6 12 x 12 6x6 12 x 12 6x6

Average 3.46 3.78 20.02 26.19 11.58 14.50 1.79 2.60

Standard
91.02 113.14 6.08 6.69 3.71 3.32 74.11 144.73
Deviation
Variance 1285.50 1801.14 36.96 44.73 13.74 11.03 1492.30 2946.49
Kurtosis 3.03 -1.70 -2.72 -0.46 -0.71 -0.76 0.70 1.74
Minimum 269.00 225.00 12.60 17.60 6.80 10.20 91.50 113.00
Maximum 500.00 524.00 26.20 36.50 16.40 19.60 289.50 536.50

= total dry matter of the leaves, in grams; and DM The extinction coefficient (k) was calculated
discs = dry matter of the disc, in grams. The leaf area using the following equation:
index (LAI) from the total leaf area of each plant and
Rn
the soil area (SA) occupied by plants was determined ln ( )
k=- Rt
according to the equation: LAI = LA/SA. LAI

Based on the results of dry matter and leaf area,
the growth analysis of the variables was conducted:
total dry matter (TDM, g m-2), absolute growth rate
(AGR, g day-1); net assimilation rate (NAR, g m-2
day-1) according to the methodology described in
the literature (Thornley 1976, Marafon et al. 2012).
EXTINCTION COEFFICIENT AND LIGHT
INTERCEPTION
Solar radiation at each evaluation period was
measured using a portable sensor pyranometer
(LICOR PY32164) coupled to a Datalogger
(LICOR 1400). The values of incident global solar
radiation were obtained from the meteorological
station of the National Meteorology Institute,
situated roughly 200m from the experiment. The
values of active photosynthetically radiation were
estimated to be 45% of global solar radiation.
This fraction follows the average values found
by Assis and Mendez (1989). The estimation of
accumulated photosynthetically active radiation
was based on the methods by Monteith (1977) and
Varlet-Grancher et al. (1989).
Where k = extinction coefficient; Rn = solar
radiation measured under the plant canopy (MJ
m-2); Rt = radiation above the plant canopy (MJ
m-2); LAI = leaf area index.
The values for intercepted global radiation
(IGR) were measured monthly, where the incident
radiation was measured above and under the
plant canopy with a portable pyranometer, which
recorded measurements in the period from 10 to
12h. The values of intercepted global radiation
were obtained according to the following equation:
% Intercepted = [100 - (Rn x 100 / Rt)]
Where: Rn = incident radiation under the
canopy; Rt = incident radiation above the canopy.
RADIATION USE EFFICIENCY
Production of dry matter was based on the
model proposed by Monteith (1977), whereby
the dry matter production was calculated from
intercepted photosynthetically active radiation
(PARi) multiplied by the use efficiency. The εb
was calculated by the relation between the average

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3270 FELIPE SCHWERZ et al.
production of accumulated TDM and the PARi
involved in the production of biomass according to
the following expression:
TDM = εb * PARi
Where TDM = total dry matter produced (g
-2
m ); PARi = intercepted photosynthetically active
solar radiation (MJ.m-2); and εb = radiation use
efficiency of dry matter produced (g. MJ-1). The
value of the radiation use efficiency given by
the angular coefficient represents the amount of
accumulated biomass for each unit of intercepted
energy.
Values for intercepted photosynthetically
active radiation were based on the model proposed
by Varlet-Grancher et al. (1989):
PARi = 0.95 * (PARinc) * (1- e (-k * LAI))
Where: PARi = intercepted photosynthetically
active radiation (MJ.m -2); PARinc = incident
irradiant photosynthetically active radiation (MJ.m-
2
); k = extinction coefficient, which was set to
0.20 for all systems, as this was the average value
obtained in this study; LAI = leaf area index.
YIELD TRAITS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
The yield traits were evaluated at 350 DAP, by
collecting and weighing the sugarcane stalk
samples from each plot, and each of the twelve
different positions in each system, in order to
obtain greater homogeneity of the samples. The
yield was determined on the basis of the variables
stalk weight and juice volume. The stalk weight
(SW, t ha-1) was obtained with the aid of a digital
scale. The juice volume (JV, m3 ha-1), was obtained
from milling the stalk and measuring the obtained
juice with the aid of a graduated cylinder with a
capacity of 1 L.
The data were statistically analyzed with
the software “Statistical Analysis System”
(SAS 2003). According to the F test, significant
An Acad Bras Cienc (2018) 90 (4)
differences were found at 5% probability among
the cropping systems. We reject the null hypothesis
H0. The Dunnet test (p> 0.05) was used to compare
the 12 x 12 and 6 x 6 intercropping systems with
the control (monocropping system) and the Tukey
test (p> 0.05) to compare the difference between
intercropping systems 12 x 12 and 6 x 6. In
addition, a regression analysis for the variable of
intercepted global radiation was performed.
RESULTS
METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS
The air temperature during the sugarcane crop
cycle ranged from 6.3ºC to 31.0ºC, with an average
temperature of 19.2ºC; the flux of global solar
radiation was 15.89 MJ.m-2.dia-1 on average, with a
variation of 1.98 to 33.03 MJ.m-2.dia-1; the rainfall
accumulated during the crop cycle was 2587.5mm
(Figure 2).
RADIATION USE EFFICIENCY AND LIGHT
INTERCEPTION
Growth of TDM presented a positive linear
relationship with PARia during the crop cycle and
presented high correlation coefficients (Figure
3a). We observed variations in the radiation use
efficiency of the conversion into biomass, in
different cropping systems and evaluation lines
within the agroforestry systems.
Of the crop systems, the greatest radiation
use efficiency of sugarcane was obtained by the
isolated system (2.28 g MJ-1). In relation to the
evaluation lines, we observed that for the 12 x 12
system, line 3 showed a greater efficiency, 2.03 g
MJ-1, when compared to the lines L1 and L2, which
showed values of 1.89 and 1.85 g MJ-1, respectively,
revealing a 9% difference for plants located in the
center of the plot. For the 6 x 6 system, we observed
a greater radiation use efficiency in line 2, which
demonstrated 1.96 g MJ-1, i.e., 10 and 6% higher
 AN APPROACH ABOUT SUGARCANE IN AGROFOREST SYSTEMS
Figure 2 - Monthly average values of minimum, maximum and average temperature, accumulated
incident solar radiation, and accumulated rainfall during the experimental period (07/02/2015 to
06/24/2016).
than the values in line 1 (1.77 g MJ-1) and line 3 (1.84
g MJ-1) of the evaluation, respectively (Figure 3a).
The intercepted global radiation showed
a quadratic response for the different cropping
systems and evaluation lines (Figure 3b). The
greatest amount of intercepted global radiation
was observed for the isolated system of sugarcane,
which intercepted 89.3% of incident radiation at
237 DAC. In the agroforestry systems, we found
different response values for each evaluation line.
In the 12 x 12 system, we observed a reduction of
16.5 and 12.5% in the interception of radiation with
the sugarcane lines nearest to the forest species (L1
and L2), when compared to L3, which intercepted
85.4% of the radiation at 265 DAC. Furthermore,
the 6 x 6 system showed a similar response, where
lines L1 and L3 presented lower values of 13 and
8.5% in the interception of radiation compared
to the L2 evaluation line, which showed 82.3%
interception of the incident solar radiation at 265
DAC (Figure 3b).
3271
LIGHT EXTINCTION COEFFICIENT
The k values were similar in the different cropping
systems (Table II). In the initial stages of plant
growth, k values were 0.15 on average. Due to
the plant growth, through the elevated LAI and
dry matter accumulation (Figure 4), the extinction
coefficient showed increased values, with a
maximum value of 0.32 at 237 DAC. Considering
the crop cycle and generalizing the crop systems,
the average light extinction coefficient for the
sugarcane crop was 0.20.
LEAF AREA INDEX AND DRY MATTER
PRODUCTION
The highest values of LAI were observed in the
stage of stalk growth, a period between 237-
265 DAC. The isolated system had the highest
LAI, 7.1; additionally, the intercropping system
provided changes in values of LAI in accordance
with the line position. The 12 x 12 system showed
the highest value in line 3, with a value of 6.2,
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3272 FELIPE SCHWERZ et al.

TABLE II response curves demonstrated similar behavior for

Light extinction coefficient with (± standard error) in
the analyzed variables. We were able to observe two
different cropping systems of sugarcane cultivation
throughout the days after cutting (DAC). peaks during the crop cycle; the first occurred at 200
DAC and the second at 300 DAC, with a subsequent
Cropping Systems
DAC decrease in growth rates in accordance with the
12 x 12 6x6 Monocrop senescence of the leaves and stalk maturation.
84 0.142 ± 0.038 0.124 ± 0.066 0.115 ± 0.047 In addition, a similar response in the different
115 0.158 ± 0.031 0.135 ± 0.092 0.136 ± 0.056 crop systems and lines of evaluation was verified.
145 0.163 ± 0.039 0.169 ± 0.021 0.145 ± 0.037 Overall, the largest absolute growth rate and net
174 0.190 ± 0.016 0.190 ± 0.029 0.159 ± 0.020 assimilation rates were observed at 206 DAC, this
206 0.211 ± 0.038 0.275 ± 0.071 0.261 ± 0.019
stage corresponds with intense stalk growth.
237 0.302 ± 0.024 0.324 ± 0.066 0.337 ± 0.018
The number of tillers in sugarcane reduces in
265 0.285 ± 0.067 0.296 ± 0.044 0.295 ± 0.026
accordance to the DAC, stabilizing at 265 DAC
(Figure 6a). Overall, a similar response between
300 0.207 ± 0.011 0.217 ± 0.033 0.228 ± 0.049
the crop systems and lines of evaluation throughout
332 0.190 ± 0.026 0.145 ± 0.031 0.183 ± 0.023
the crop cycle were observed. In the initial growth
stages, a period of intense tillering, we observed
which is 15.6 and 12.5% higher than in lines 1 and
an average of 10 tillers m -2. In the stage of
2, respectively. In the 6 x 6 system, the highest
maturation, we found values between 4 to 5 tillers
LAI was found in line 2, with values around 6.4;
m-2, a reduction of more than 50% in the number
these values were 14.5 and 11.6% higher than those
of tillers. In relation to plant height (Figure 6b),
obtained by lines 1 and 3, respectively (Figure 4a).
we observed a linear response in accordance to the
Dry matter accumulated during the cycle of
sugarcane presented a positive linear relation, DAC, with stabilization in height from 300 DAC
with an observed stabilization for 300 DAC. This onwards. Overall, the plants presented values of
period marks the beginning of the maturation of approximately 265 cm.
stalks, which can be noted by the reductions in BIOMASS PARTITIONING
growth rates and an increase in sucrose content
of stalks (Figure 4b). The greatest values for total The pattern of dry matter accumulation in the leaves,
accumulated dry matter were observed in the pseudoculm+senescent, and stalks of sugarcane
isolated system, which increased a total of 592.7 was similar for the different cropping systems
g plant-1. For the intercropping systems, a similar (Figure 7). In the initial stages of plant growth, up
response in accumulated dry matter was obtained to 115 DAC, the leaves and pseudoculm+senescent
from the different evaluation positions in the were responsible for 100% of total dry matter
understory. While the 12 x 12 system had a total of accumulation, 50% for each compartment on
504.8 g plant-1 on average, the accumulation total average; the dry matter of the stalks was computed
of dry matter of the 6 x 6 system was found to be from 115 DAC onwards. At 206 DAC the plants
469.3 g plant-1 (Figure 4b). showed stabilization in the partition of assimilates
up to the harvest; where the leaves (20%)
GROWTH RATES
pseudoculm+senescent (5%) and stalk (75%) were
The absolute growth rate and net assimilation rate responsible for the total dry matter accumulated by
throughout the crop cycle are shown in Figure 5. The the sugarcane crop.

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 AN APPROACH ABOUT SUGARCANE IN AGROFOREST SYSTEMS 3273

Figure 3 - The relationship between accumulated intercepted photosynthetically active radiation

(PARiac) and dry matter produced (DM) (a); and intercepted global radiation of sugarcane in
agroforestry and isolated systems in different lines of evaluation throughout the days after cutting (b).

YIELD TRAITS higher than those observed in the agroforestry

According to the variance analysis, we observed a
significant difference for the variables stalk weight
and juice volume in the different cropping systems
(Figure 8). The stalk weight and juice volume
in sugarcane grown in the isolated system were
systems (Figure 8). We observed a reduction of
17.5 and 32.7% of stalk weight for the 12 x 12
and 6 x 6 systems, respectively, when compared
to the isolated system by the Dunnet test (p> 0.05).
Additionally, between the crop systems, the stalk
yield was 18.4% greater in the 12 x 12 system

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3274 FELIPE SCHWERZ et al.

Figure 4 - Leaf area index (a) and total dry matter (b) of sugarcane in agroforestry and isolated systems in different lines
of evaluation throughout the days after cutting.

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 AN APPROACH ABOUT SUGARCANE IN AGROFOREST SYSTEMS
than in the 6 x 6 according to the Tukey test (p>
0.05). In relation to the juice volume produced, a
similar response to the stalk weight was observed,
confirming the correlation between these variables,
where the isolated system also showed a higher
juice volume. We also observed a reduction of 16.6
and 35.3% by juice volume produced in the 12 x
12 and 6 x 6 systems, respectively. In addition,
between agroforestry systems, the juice volume of
the 12 x 12 system was 22.5% higher than in the 6
x 6 system. With this, we can infer that the 12 x 12
system showed greater stalk yields and volume of
produced juice, compared to the 6 x 6 system.
DISCUSSION
The meteorological conditions during the growing
cycle were favorable for sugarcane, especially with
respect to the air temperature and water availability.
Sugarcane needs 1500 to 2500mm of water evenly
distributed over the growing season (FAO 2013).
Within the agroforestry system the positioning
of sugarcane lines is very important, and therefore
should be considered in studies with intercropping
systems; the canopy of forest species can result
in changes to microclimates. In this case, the
canopy provided a reduction in LAI (Figure
4a) and consequently in intercepted radiation
(Figure 3b) in the lines of sugarcane near the tree
species, resulting in an overall lower radiation use
efficiency by plants. The growth and development
of different species in the same area cause dynamic
interactions in species planted near one another,
which changes with the time. These interactions
modify the distribution of existing resources in the
system (Muller et al. 2014), with the solar radiation
changing first.
The results observed are consistent with those
of Marchiori et al. 2014, who reported that excessive
shading may affect certain growth traits causing
decreases in tillering and in photosynthetically
active leaf area, as well as in the interception of
solar radiation, producing thinner, elongated stalks.
3275
In addition, excessive shading during extended
periods may affect the photosynthetic apparatus as
a result of decreases in chlorophyll content (Chl),
in nitrogen content, and in the Chl a/b ratio (Pearcy
1998, Dinç et al. 2012).
The values of radiation use efficiency obtained
in this study are similar to what has been observed
by other authors: De Silva and De Costa (2012)
found values of RUE which vary from 1.63 to 2.09
g MJ-1 and 0.71 to 1.03 g MJ-1 under irrigated and
rain-fed conditions in Sri Lanka; Anderson et al.
(2015), analyzing the RUE in two crop sites in
Hawaii, USA, found average values of 1.24 ± 0.22
g MJ-1 during the period of growth for locations of
low altitude and 1.15 ± 0 15 g MJ-1 for location of
high altitude. The maximum RUE for sugarcane
can vary between 1.7 g MJ-1 (Robertson et al. 1996)
to 2.0 g MJ-1 (Muchow et al. 1997).
In the national and international literature,
RUE values for sugarcane grown in agroforestry
systems have not been determined. Comparing
the RUE values obtained from the monocropping
system with those obtained in the intercropping
systems in this study, even under the influence of
the tree species, the sugarcane in the understory
of agroforestry system showed high values for
RUE and can, therefore, be recommended for
cultivation in alternative production systems, such
as agroforestry systems.
The lowest amount of radiation intercepted by
the sugarcane in the 12 x 12 system, in the first and
second lines of evaluation, as well as in the first and
third lines in the 6 x 6 system, are associated with
the effects of the canopy of the species Aleurites
fordii, which shaded the sugarcane plants. Due to
sugarcane’s high photosynthetic rate (C4 species),
it needs a large amount of solar radiation to meet
its photosynthetic demand. Plants submitted
to different levels of shading (for example, in
proximity of the evaluation line to the tree species)
demonstrate changes in photosynthetic rate, and
An Acad Bras Cienc (2018) 90 (4)
3276 FELIPE SCHWERZ et al.

Figure 5 - Absolute growth rate (a) and net assimilation rate (b) of sugarcane in agroforestry and isolated systems in
different lines of evaluation throughout the days after cutting.

An Acad Bras Cienc (2018) 90 (4)

 AN APPROACH ABOUT SUGARCANE IN AGROFOREST SYSTEMS 3277

Figure 6 - Number of tillers (a) and plant height (b) of sugarcane in agroforestry and isolated
systems in different lines of evaluation throughout the days after cutting.

consequently, the production of assimilates, which
influences the radiation use efficiency of plants.
The observed results are similar to those of
Hardy et al. (2004), who reported that the amount
of radiation intercepted by the forestry species and
consequently the radiation that reaches the ground
level is determined by canopy characteristics,
such as the average crown diameter and the size
of the existing gaps in the canopy, which can
all be affected modified by plant arrangement.
Naturally, the probability of photosynthetically
active radiation reaching the ground is inversely
proportional to the degree in which it is intercepted
by the canopy structure.
Péllico Netto et al. (2015), evaluating the
dynamics of solar radiation in the understory of

An Acad Bras Cienc (2018) 90 (4)

3278 FELIPE SCHWERZ et al.
Acacia mearnsii, concluded that in the center of the
plot, i.e. between rows of trees, more than 70% of the
radiation reaches the ground level. However, under
the canopy, the values were reduced significantly,
to only 20%, thereby diminishing the availability
of radiation for understory crops. This confirmed
the influence of the canopy trees on the interception
of incident radiation. Our findings are in line with
a study carried out by Pezzopane et al. (2015) and
Bosi et al. (2014) who reported the strong relation
between levels of incident solar radiation, and its
effect on microclimate, growth characteristics of
plants, and soil moisture.
The growth of sugarcane was correlated to an
increase in k values (Table II), coinciding with an
increase in LAI. This result provides an increase
in radiation interception up to a determined value
when the plants reach a critical IAF and begin
self-shading, resulting in an increased extinction
coefficient. It can be inferred that independent of
the cropping system, the k values depend primarily
on the LAI, which determines the amount of solar
radiation available in the understory of sugarcane.
According to Behling et al. (2015), this condition is
understandable since light attenuation of the plant
canopy is determined by leaf density (which can
be expressed by LAI) and also by the geometric
characteristics of the leaves and the tree canopy, as
well as the optical properties of the leaves. Thornley
(1976) reported that the value of k may vary with
leaf traits, sun angle, spacing, and latitude.
High values of LAI (> 6) resulted in the average
k value of 0.20, for the conditions as observed in
this study. Similar values were obtained by De
Silva and De Costa (2012), who found values
near to 0.27 in irrigated sugarcane in Sri Lanka,
although other authors found values higher than
those obtained in this study. Muchow et al. (1994,
1997) reported k values near to 0.40 for irrigated
sugarcane in Australia and Hawaii. Meki et al.
(2015) found a value of k equal to 0.53 for sugarcane
in Hawaii. This is similar to a value obtained by
An Acad Bras Cienc (2018) 90 (4)
Inman-Bamber et al. (2011) in a study conducted in
Australia with a value of 0.58. It can be highlighted
that in both national and international literature, k
values were not determined for sugarcane grown in
agroforestry systems.
The greatest values of LAI were found in
periods of intense vegetative growth (237 to 265
DAC), with values near to 7. In accordance with the
results of Inman-Bamber (1994), for the cultivation
of sugarcane, the critical value of LAI to intercept
95% of the radiation is near 4, thus average values
obtained in this study are above the critical value
of LAI.
According to Pinto et al. (2005), the main
limiting factor in agroforestry systems is the
availability of solar radiation, which together with
the competition for water and nutrients limits the
growth of sugarcane near the forest species. In new
research conducted with agroforestry systems, the
effect of a reduction in radiation availability must
be considered due to the influence in the growth
and development of the species in intercropping
systems.
The changes in the microclimatic conditions
in different cropping environments resulted in
variations of the absolute growth rate and net
assimilation rate of plants (Figure 5). The reduction
in growth rates is explained by the effect of self-
shading due to an increase in the LAI (Figure 4a), as
well as in the ripening stage due to leaf senescence
as a result of reduced air temperature. In accordance
with the results of Cardozo and Sentelhas (2013),
in the south of Brazil, the lowest air temperature in
the months of autumn-winter, combined with the
occurrence of moderate water deficit, are the main
factors responsible for the reduction of growth rates,
except, at the beginning stage of maturation where
it results in a high increase in sucrose content.
The reduction in the number of tillers up to
DAC 237 is due to the effect of intraspecific
competition among plants, especially in the initial
stages of growth, i.e., the stage of high tillering. The
 AN APPROACH ABOUT SUGARCANE IN AGROFOREST SYSTEMS
competition occurs mainly for solar radiation since
this is the limiting factor in the agroforestry system.
In addition, we recorded low levels of cumulative
rainfall in August and September, periods that
corresponded to approximately 50 and 80 DAC
and the tiller emission stage, which affected the
tillering of sugarcane.
The tillering pattern found in this study is
similar to that described by Bezuidenhout et al.
(2003), but with a lower tiller density than what
was reported in that study: peak tillering at 12 to 14
tiller m-2. After the senescence stage, tiller density
stabilized at 7 tiller m-2 regardless of water source
(rain or irrigation) or planting site. This implies
that tillering rate and survival of tillers is related
to the quantity and quality of the solar radiation
intercepted by plants (Inman-Bamber 1994,
Bezuidenhout et al. 2003).
Regarding the partitioning of assimilates,
the biomass accumulated in the leaves decreased
gradually throughout the crop cycle, especially in
the maturation stage due to the senescence of lower
leaves. Another important aspect to be emphasized
is the exportation of sucrose and starch from leaves
to other compartments. In our study, the total dry
matter in the stalk in the sugarcane plants resulted
in an average accumulation of 75% (Figure 7).
The metabolism and partitioning of sucrose
are essential for all stages of the sugarcane crop
cycle and requires hydrolysis to use it as a source
of energy (Leite et al. 2009). In leaves (the source),
the synthesis of carbohydrates is realized, which
is translocated to the stalks (sink) in the form of
sucrose, in order to meet plant maintenance and
growth metabolism demands (Taiz and Zeiger
2013). These processes are accompanied by
constant changes in source-sink relations (Roitsch
and González 2004), which was confirmed in this
study through the partitioning of dry matter by the
sugarcane (Figure 7).
The observed results are similar to those of
Marin et al. (2011), who, evaluating the partition
3279
of biomass throughout the sugarcane cycle, found
higher initial biomass accumulated in the leaves
and in stalks starting from 129 DAP. This is
equivalent to 9% of TDM with increasing values,
reaching 70% at 330 DAP. In a study conducted in
southern Brazil, Simões et al. (2005) found ratios
of around 80% of dry matter accumulated in stalks
at 400 DAP. Muchow et al. (1994) found the stalk
biomass values change from 60% to 80% for DAP
300 to 450 DAP, in Australia.
The greatest stalk yield and juice volume
observed for the monocropping system is explained
by the favorable meteorological conditions during
the crop cycle (Figure 2). The average stalk yield
of 61.8 t ha-1 is consistent with the values found
in the literature. In the study conducted by Liu et
al. (2016), who evaluated the yield of sugarcane in
China, observed an average yield of 56.1 and 79.9 t
ha-1 for Kaiyuan and Yuanjiang, respectively. Abreu
et al. (2013), studying five cultivars of sugarcane,
found the following average yields: 89 t ha-1 in the
first year of cultivation, 75 t ha-1 in the second year
and 88 t ha-1 in the third year of cultivation in the
state of Alagoas, Brazil.
The sugarcane yield is reduced in agroforestry
systems. This reduction in stalk weight and juice
volume may be related to the morphophysiological
adjustments, for example as a shade tolerance
strategy. These adaptations were not able to
compensate for the reduction of radiation in the
understory of Aleurites fordii, which reduced overall
yields. However, even under the influence of tree
species, the 12 x 12 system showed satisfactory
values with relation to the stalk weight (50.9 t ha-
1
) and produced juice volume (26.8 m3 h-1). This
value is near the average stalk yield for the state of
Rio Grande do Sul of 53.9 t ha-1 (Conab 2017). This
result confirms the viability of the intercropping
system for the production of sugarcane. Pinto et
al. (2005), evaluating the yield of sugarcane in
agroforestry systems with Eucalyptus grandis,
found differences in sugarcane yields in different
An Acad Bras Cienc (2018) 90 (4)
3280 FELIPE SCHWERZ et al.

Figure 7 - Biomass partitioning in sugarcane plants in different cropping systems

throughout the days after cutting. Each bar represents the mean value of twelve replications
(± s.e.).

evaluation spacings. Plants spaced 11.6 m from the
tree species obtained average yields of 64.1 t ha-1 in
the state of São Paulo, Brazil.
The satisfactory yield values in the 12 x 12
system are related to the greater availability of
radiation within the system, which enabled a
greater plant growth, confirmed by the elevated
TDM and LAI (Figure 4). In addition, the Aleurites
fordii (deciduous species), displays leaf senescence
in the colder seasons (winter-autumn). Senescence
can increase the radiation intercepted by sugarcane,
especially in the final stage of maturation, resulting
in an increase of the stalk weight and produced juice
(Figure 8). This result highlights the importance
of appropriate selection of tree species used in the
composition of the agroforestry system.
These results are consistent with those obtained
by Elli et al. (2016), who, evaluating the yield of
sugarcane in different agroforestry systems, found
higher stalk yields for intercropping with the

An Acad Bras Cienc (2018) 90 (4)

 AN APPROACH ABOUT SUGARCANE IN AGROFOREST SYSTEMS
Figure 8 - Stalk weight and juice volume in sugarcane
plants in different agroforestry and monocropping systems.
Each bar represents the mean value of twelve replications (±
s.e.). Means followed by the same letter do not differ among
themselves. Uppercase compare the agroforestry systems with
the control (Monocropping), by Dunnet test (p> 0.05); and
lowercase compare the agroforestry systems (12 x 12 and 6 x
6m), by Tukey test (p> 0.05).
species Parapiptadenia rígida, where the values
of 61.9, 53.1, and 41.6 t ha-1 were obtained in three
cultivation cycles. The greater yields observed
by the authors is related to the characteristics of
their forest species. Above all, because they enable
greater radiation availability in the understory, an
important characteristic of deciduous species.
The study of the growth variables, yield traits,
and dynamics of solar radiation in agroforestry
systems are underfunded. Thus, the information
generated in this study is relevant, as it provides
information to farmers for the planning of
more effective agroforestry arrangements. It
3281
also confirms the viability of the cultivation of
sugarcane in agroforestry systems. Additionally,
Brazilian law No. 12,651, May 25, 2012, which
established a new Forest Code, allows small
farmers to plant agroforestry systems in areas of
permanent preservation (APP) and legal reserves
(RL), provided that those systems are subject to a
sustainable management plan.
CONCLUSIONS
The cultivation of sugarcane in agroforestry system
did not present higher yields and radiation use
efficiency, thus, the hypothesis of the study was
rejected. However, even under the influence of the
species Aleurites fordii, the cultivation of sugarcane
in agroforestry systems showed satisfactory
values of yield and radiation use efficiency and
can be recommended for cultivation in alternative
production systems. The use of agroforestry
systems with 12 x 12m arrangements should be
prioritized because this enabled greater yields and
radiation availability in the understory.
This study sought to provide new sustainable
alternatives for farmers, in order to increase the
diversification of rural properties and preserve
existing agro-ecosystems. It is important that
research is conducted in order to study the
implementation of agroforestry systems in
threatened ecosystems, such as in permanent
preservation areas (APP’s) and legal reserve (RL’s).
It is necessary to study the responses of these areas
in with regard to environmental preservation, the
maintenance of biodiversity, and economic return
of agroforestry systems, and to do so while adapting
to modern environmental legislation.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors wish to acknowledge the Conselho
Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e
Tecnológico (CNPq-Brazil) and the Coordenação
de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
(CAPES-Brazil) for their financial support.
An Acad Bras Cienc (2018) 90 (4)
3282 FELIPE SCHWERZ et al.
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